Hey all :) This'll be a quick one - I'm a bit crunched for time today.
Because one of my co-workers and her husband had to go to Minnesota this week for a biopsy, I worked a different shift, and somehow got a Friday off. But as thankful as I am for today off, my mind is heavy, please keep my co-worker and her husband in your prayers, they're going through some rough stuff right now.
Later on tonight, a few vans will depart from our church filled with high school students and some of our youth leadership staff. Caleb and I will be two of those staff.. with a bunch of high schoolers yet again, on our way up to camp, and we're pretty excited for the next few days. This weekend is the annual leadership retreat for high schoolers, and I can't wait to see how God is going to move. Unlike the camp I grew up going to that was about four hours away, this camp is only about an hour and a half away, so the drive isn't brutal. The weekend will be filled with camp games, chapel, food, fellowship and ohhh so much worship. Please keep our students and leaders in your prayers especially this weekend for safety, open hearts, vulnerability, growth, and a willingness to let God change what needs to be changed. Its greatly appreciated! Prayer warriors truly are gems, and regardless of what others say, I believe that prayer is
powerful beyond words.
What spurred me to write this morning is something I found in my purse. I recently switched purses and found an old mp3 player from my freshman year of high school. Like any curious person, I popped in a new battery and tried to remember what songs would be on there.. the songs that were most meaningful to me at the time. The first few notes of the first song immediately brought a smile to my face and the melody of 'American Child' by Phil Vassar came loud and clear through my earbuds. I kept scrolling and came across a familiar title. I pushed play and at the first few notes of the song it felt like my heart lifted. The song was titled 'Hungry' but is known today as 'Hallelujah.' Its strange how we can connect so greatly to words someone else has written.. I remember sitting on the school bus after a long and bad day at school listening to this song with tears in my eyes, knowing that God's love is still powerful, even after the bad days. The melody, the words, the whole thing; its just one of those songs that makes you stop, close your eyes, and breathe... as if to tell you 'hey... just chill for a minute..' Fact is, some things aren't as important or dire as we think they are. In high school when we had a bad day, we often made it out to be the end of the world; but in reality it was just a day where a few things went wrong and we let it effect our whole day. Yes, it really was a choice.. and we made the choice to
let it effect our whole day. But things seem so big at that age, and still now sometimes. It just makes me stop and think now, looking back a bit. I'm glad for little memories like that; ones that can be brought back just by hitting 'play.' Anyway, enough rambling, I'll give you the lyrics and then I'm off to pack, drop our dog off at my parents, and finish getting ready to head to camp. Here they are, 'Hallelujah:'
Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet
Your love is a mystery, how You gently lift me
When I am surrounded, Your love carries me
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising
All the joy thats growing, deep inside of me
Every time I see You, all Your goodness shines through
I can feel this God-song, rising up in me
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing
Here's my challenge to you: let the message of this song effect your day. I'm not going to tell you how - thats up to you to decide. And remember, its a choice.
